Bendel Insurance maintained their unbeaten run in the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League season as they held hosts Remo Stars to a 1-1 draw in Ikenne on Sunday in a matchday 14 fixture.
The newcomers who have taken the league by storm went behind in the 16th minute when Togolese striker Franck Mawuena gave the hosts the lead. However, the lead didn’t last long – Divine Nwachukwu grabbed the equaliser in the 20th minute. Despite the push for a winning goal from both sides, they had to settle for a draw.
Daniel Ogunmodede, head coach of Remo Stars says he is disappointed with the result but the plan is to look past it and focus on the next game, “I don’t feel too good about the result but we have to pick ourselves up and look forward to the next game.”
Reacting to the draw, the fifth in a row, Insurance head coach Monday Odigie says it shows how dynamic and competitive the league is, “The first half of the season we recorded lots of wins now there are many draws, nothing has changed, a lot of teams have watched us and that speaks to how dynamic the sport is. You can’t take other teams for granted, if you can’t take your chances and win, don’t allow them take theirs,” Odigie said.
“What we do as a team is fight for every point, then go back to the drawing board and work on our mistakes. I don’t place much thought on the unbeaten results we’ve had so far, we just want to do our jobs and do it well.”
It was the third consecutive draw for Remo Stars while Insurance have also shared the same fate. The Benin Gunners have failed to claim maximum points in their last five league games recording draws against high-profile teams such as Enyimba, Akwa United, Plateau United and Kwara United.
In other Group A results in the abridged league, Plateau United pipped Akwa United 1-0, El Kanemi Warriors were held to a 1-1 draw by Shooting Stars while Enyimba earned a 2-1 away win over Kwara United.
In Group B, Abia Warriors beat Sunshine Stars 2-1, Bayelsa United thrashed Group B log leaders Lobi Stars 3-0, high-flying Doma United earned a 2-0 win over Wikki Tourist while Enugu Rangers played out a 2-2 draw against Niger Tornadoes.
